Liga Betclic: Benfica-Vizela X-ray

Maintaining the top spot in the Liga Betclic is the goal of a Benfica side determined to pick up another three points, this time in the Cathedral, when they host Vizela, this Sunday, February 18, at 6pm, on matchday 22 of the competition.

It is this determination that has allowed Roger Schmidt's men to extend their unbeaten record in the league (20 games).

With 52 points to their name, the Eagles face a team that occupies the penultimate place in the standings, with 17 points, and which obtained a morale-boosting result in the last round, beating Gil Vicente (0-1) away from home in one of the regional derbies. Rubén de la Barrera's side hadn't won in the top flight since matchday 10, on November 5, when they beat Casa Pia by the narrowest of margins and also as visitors (0-1).

Benfica will play Vizela for the 11th time, and the last two were in the current 2023/24 season. In the reverse fixture, away from home, on the matchday 5, the eagles won (1-2), with goals from Petar Musa and Di María, repeating the result (1-2) in the Portuguese Cup, in the quarter-finals, this time with goals from Arthur Cabral and João Mário.

Overall, the Reds won nine games (90%), in all competitions, and drew one. In the league, there have been six wins in the seven matches played (86%). The overall goal difference is 23 for Benfica (2.3 per game) and seven for Vizela.

Before the start of matchday 22, according to data consulted on the Wyscout platform, and looking at the comparison with Vizela, Benfica are the team with the most shots in the competition (343 against 250), the team with the most crosses (383 against 355), the team with the most one-on-one and dribbling actions (718 against 489), and the second team with the most touches in the opposing penalty box (574 against 342).

In terms of finishing, 41.4% of the eagles' shots were on target, while the Minhotos managed 32.4%. In dribbling, the Reds succeeded 53.5% of the time, while the Vizelenses only succeeded 49.9% of the time.

When it comes to passing, Benfica dominate in this parameter in terms of quantity (11,405 against 7,964), and are the team that makes the most technical gestures of this type in the competition. Their efficiency is 86.2%. Vizela's is 82.5%. In terms of possession, Benfica have an average of 58.1% per game, while their next rivals have 48.9%.

In defense, Benfica remain the best team in the competition in terms of goals conceded (14 against 38 for Vizela), having allowed 210 shots against Vizela's 282, a team that ranks 3rd in terms of aerial duels (845 and 42.8% won against 616 and 43.7%). The team from Minho is also the one with most fouls in the competition (321 against 238) and 3rd with the fewest defensive duels won (57.4% against 61.3%).

Individually, Rafa leads the list of players with the most assists in the competition (9), in which four Benfica players are in the top five: Di María (6), Aursnes (6) and Neres (5). The No 27 is also the top scorer for the Reds in the competition, with 9 goals. On the other side, Essende, the 26-year-old French striker, has already scored 10 goals and, defensively, is the 2nd player with the most aerial duels (184).

For matchday 21 of the Liga Betclic, against Vitória SC, coach Roger Schmidt opted for a line-up consisting of Trubin, Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Morato, João Neves, Kökcü, Aursnes, Di María, João Mário and Rafa. Florentino and Kökcü won't be available for the Minho clash as they've picked up five yellow cards and will serve a one-match suspension.

Vizela coach Rubén de la Barrera, in his side's win at Gil Vicente in the last round of the Liga Betclic, fielded a 4x2x3x1 team with the following eleven: Ruberto, Tomás Silva, Jota Gonçalves, Anderson, Matheus, Samu, Bruno Costa, Petrov, Diogo Nascimento, Domingos Quina and Essende.